Susan Salomone, MS, CASAC, Founder Drug Crisis in our Backyard
The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines stigma as:
1. a set of negative and unfair beliefs that a society or group of people have about something
2. an identifying mark or characteristic; specifically: a specific diagnostic sign of a disease
I can remember in the 1960’s there was a stigma associated with cancer. People would not admit if they had cancer and it was referred to as the Big “C.” The disease of cancer was spoken about in whispers. The result was guilt and shame for having this sickness. Perhaps you know someone suffering with cancer or someone who has died from cancer. Would you have burdened them with the heavy weight of guilt while they were going through chemo, losing their hair, losing weight, and knowing that perhaps they would not be able to overcome this disease? It really is a rhetorical question because today in 2024 it sounds archaic.
This same stigma shrouds the disease of addiction, now referred to as Substance Use Disorder, and the stigma is just as deadly as the disease itself. The irony of the situation is that the use of alcohol and drugs is pervasive in our society and that almost everyone I speak to about our organization, Drug Crisis in our Backyard, tell me they have a problem somewhere in their family or know someone who has… and that is not surprising. In 2016, the Surgeon General released a report called “Facing Addiction” because of the widespread use of illicit drugs.
According to the report released by Surgeon General Vivek H. Murthy, MD, MBA “We must help everyone see addiction is not a character flaw-it is a chronic illness…We now know that there is a neurobiological basis for substance use disorders with potential for both recovery and recurrence.”
In 2021, SAMHSA announced the results of a national survey on Drug Use and Substance Use Levels. Among people aged 12 or older, 61.2 million people or 21.9% of the population used illicit drugs in the past year. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, there were 109,000 deaths in the US caused by overdose in 2022. There is a multitude of reasons for this but one very powerful one is the stigma associated with the disease and the fear of coming forward for help. Not only is the person with the disease ashamed and embarrassed but the family is also ashamed asking the question “What did I do wrong? How could this happen in our family?” In a culture where we romance alcohol and drugs, we demonize those who get addicted as though they set out to ruin their lives and very often lose their lives because of drugs. The decision to try alcohol or marijuana may be a mistake but the reality is not everyone who drinks or smokes marijuana will get addicted and nobody knows who has that target on their back.
Culturally we need to change our thinking about substance use. We cannot promote use of substances like alcohol and marijuana at the expense of those that will get addicted. With all the scientific evidence now available to define this as a disease, we as a society need to breakdown the prejudice that makes those suffering with the disease feel less than, not worthy, second-class citizens. Anyone who has lived with addiction knows first-hand that the self-guilt and doubt are overwhelming barriers in trying to battle this disease. It is a disease of self-incrimination and as an organization we are committed to stopping the stigma by talking, walking, advertising and writing about it. Save the Date to help us Stop the Stigma at our 10th Annual Run for Recovery and Wellness Fair on Sept. 28 at FDR park. Please visit our website for more information.